Why a former Vegas Golden Knight could boost the New Jersey Devils' scoring depth

While New Jersey Devils' general manager Tom Fitzgerald has already retooled the bottom-six, there is still work to do. While getting a 3C is an option, you could move Dawson Mercer to that role to create depth. If that's the case, finding another scoring, depth winger would be ideal. A recent Vegas Golden Knights forward is still available in free agency. This player, not too long ago, put up 20-plus goals in back-to-back seasons.

Victor Olofsson just wrapped up his first season in Vegas and rebounded from a disappointing 2023-24 campaign in which he potted just seven goals and 15 points while playing in just 51 games. Despite only playing in five more games this past year, Olofsson stepped up with 15 goals and 29 points. On top of that, he posted a strong +/- of +17, the best of his career. Now, he did play a lot with guys like Jack Eichel and Tomáš Hertl on the top six, but Olofsson gave the Knights that confidence that he can be a reliable offensive producer.

In 2024-25, Olofsson finished with an average total of 23 goals in 82 games. The biggest asset that he brings is a hard, heavy, and accurate shot. This is something the Devils don't have enough of when it comes to their forward group. Olofsson becomes a threat both at 5-on-5 as well as on the power play, with six of his 15 goals last year coming courtesy of the man-advantage. One thing that came as a surprise which could be a major benefit to head coach Sheldon Keefe's roster is Oloffson's defensive play.

For the most part, he's never been known to be a solid two-way player, but his play last year gives hope that he can be more of that moving forward.

Oloffson finished last year with a +6 net defensive rating according to The Athletic's player cards. That was good enough for him to be in the top 2% of the NHL. Still, he has struggled to be consistent in the lineup due to his offense-first approach. Nonetheless, that should not prevent New Jersey from taking a flyer on him.

As mentioned before, Oloffson can score 20 or more goals. In three of his first five seasons in the NHL, all with the team he was drafted by, the Buffalo Sabres, Oloffson banked in 20-plus goals. This included back-to-back between 2021-22 and 2022-23. The longer he stays on the market, the less he will end up costing, which is great for Fitzgerald. The Devils currently have just under $7 million in cap space and still need to give Luke Hughes a new contract. Cap room will need to be made anyway, but with Oloffson still available, there's an opportunity to continue to improve the team's scoring, forward depth.